US6516059B1 - Method and system for adaptively allocating call-related tasks - Google Patents

Method and system for adaptively allocating call-related tasks Download PDF

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Publication number
US6516059B1
US6516059B1 US09/456,931 US45693199A US6516059B1 US 6516059 B1 US6516059 B1 US 6516059B1 US 45693199 A US45693199 A US 45693199A US 6516059 B1 US6516059 B1 US 6516059B1
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Prior art keywords
call
telephony
accessed unit
centrally accessed
features
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US09/456,931
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English (en)
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Shmuel Shaffer
William Joseph Beyda
Dieter Rencken
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Unify GmbH and Co KG
Enterprise Systems Technologies SARL
Unify Inc
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Siemens Information and Communication Networks Inc
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Priority to DE60021994T priority patent/DE60021994T2/de
Priority to EP00310389A priority patent/EP1107554B1/de
Priority to JP2000370629A priority patent/JP2001223812A/ja
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Assigned to SIEMENS COMMUNICATIONS, INC. reassignment SIEMENS COMMUNICATIONS, INC. MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SIEMENS INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION NETWORKS, INC.
Assigned to SIEMENS ENTERPRISE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. reassignment SIEMENS ENTERPRISE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SIEMENS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Assigned to WELLS FARGO TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED, AS SECURITY AGENT reassignment WELLS FARGO TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED, AS SECURITY AGENT GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN U.S. PATENTS Assignors: SIEMENS ENTERPRISE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
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Assigned to ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGIES S.A.R.L. & CO. KG reassignment ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGIES S.A.R.L. & CO. KG DEMERGER Assignors: UNIFY GMBH & CO. KG
Assigned to ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES S.A.R.L. reassignment ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES S.A.R.L. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGIES S.A.R.L. & CO. KG
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/42314—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers in private branch exchanges
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F9/00—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units
    • G06F9/06—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
    • G06F9/46—Multiprogramming arrangements
    • G06F9/50—Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU]
    • G06F9/5005—Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU] to service a request
    • G06F9/5027—Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU] to service a request the resource being a machine, e.g. CPUs, Servers, Terminals
    • G06F9/505—Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU] to service a request the resource being a machine, e.g. CPUs, Servers, Terminals considering the load
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F2209/00—Indexing scheme relating to G06F9/00
    • G06F2209/50—Indexing scheme relating to G06F9/50
    • G06F2209/509—Offload
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M7/00—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
    • H04M7/006—Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer

Definitions

  • the invention relates generally to methods and systems for allocating resources for performing call-related tasks and relates more particularly to allocating resources in a network environment in which there is redundant capability in implementing the call-related tasks.
  • a private branch exchange may be used to support calls to and from telephony devices that are on the premises of the owner of the PBX.
  • Traditional PBXs provide all of the call processing for the supported telephony devices. This call processing includes supporting call-related features, such as call forwarding and voice messaging, in addition to the required routing of incoming and outgoing calls.
  • distributed call processing allows at least some of the call-related features to be implemented at the telephony devices, but typically also includes a device (a “centrally accessed unit”) that is utilized by all of the telephony devices.
  • a device typically also includes a device (a “centrally accessed unit”) that is utilized by all of the telephony devices.
  • a centrally accessed unit For example, personal computers running telephony over local area network (ToL) clients can handle call-related features such as call forwarding, while a gatekeeper is used to enable features and to perform limited management functions, such as translating addresses, or feature services.
  • PBXs may also be adapted to provide distributed call processing capability.
  • an advantage of distributed call processing is that the call-related tasks can be performed at the telephony devices.
  • This frees the centrally accessed unit (e.g., a gatekeeper) of the system to perform the processing which can only be implemented at the centrally accessed unit.
  • the gatekeeper or comparable unit may be considered to be a universal central processing unit (CPU), while the telephony devices may be considered to be edge CPUs.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • edge CPUs By dedicating the universal CPU to tasks that must be performed by the universal CPU, the delays that are imposed by operations within the universal CPU can be controlled.
  • Common programming languages that are used at the centrally accessed unit in a distributed call processing environment include C and C++.
  • the programming language may be different at the telephony devices.
  • Computers running ToL clients often use the JAVA® programming language (JAVA is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems).
  • JAVA is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems.
  • the JAVA language is often less efficient than C or C++. Consequently, simple call processing tasks performed at a personal computer of a user may consume a significant percentage of the processing resources of the computer.
  • delays will be introduced as a result of the processing demands associated with performing a call-related task (e.g., call forwarding). The delays will be greater for computers without a high level of power.
  • a partial solution is to assign implementation of specific call-related features to the centrally accessed unit, even though the features could be implemented at the device level.
  • voicemail capability may be implemented using a server connected to a gatekeeper, rather than providing ToL client voicemail capability.
  • the benefits of this partial solution will be greater under certain operating conditions than under others. In fact, the effects may be negative under conditions that may be related to current levels of call traffic and/or current demand for a particular call-related feature that is implemented at the centrally accessed level when it could be implemented at the device level.
  • a method and a system utilize adaptive distributed call processing to achieve high system performance over a wide range of operating conditions.
  • the system includes a centrally accessed unit that at least partially supports call capability for a number of telephony devices.
  • the method includes enabling the centrally accessed unit to implement specific call-related features and enabling the telephony devices to implement the same features, so that there is a redundant capability.
  • a task-allocation scheme is established to allow requests for the features to be responded to on the basis of current resource capability. For each request for implementation of a specific call-related feature for which there is redundant capability, there is an adaptive assignment that is at least partially based upon current availability of processing resources within at least one of the centrally accessed unit and the particular telephony device that is associated with the request.
  • the telephony devices are personal computers running ToL client software.
  • the centrally accessed unit may be a gatekeeper or another device having corresponding capabilities.
  • the determination of the current availability of processing resources involves anticipating the delays associated with executing the requested call-related feature at the centrally processing unit. If the anticipated delay is below a predetermined delay threshold, the implementation of the requested feature is assigned to the centrally accessed unit. On the other hand, if the anticipated delay is greater than the predetermined delay threshold, the telephony device associated with the call is assigned the task of implementing the requested feature.
  • the predetermined delay threshold may be based upon the anticipated delay at the telephony device if the telephony device is assigned to implementing the requested feature. In an alternative embodiment, rather than selecting a fixed delay threshold, the assignment is based upon determining and comparing current availabilities of processing resources at the centrally accessed unit and the telephony device.
  • the centrally accessed unit may be assigned to performing each call-related task for which redundant capability is available, until a predetermined threshold of processing power is being accessed as a result of previous requests. Once the predetermined threshold has been reached, the subsequent requests for the call-related features are assigned to the telephony devices. Assignment to the centrally accessed unit does not return until changes in traffic or other circumstances allow the available processing power to return to a level below the predetermined threshold.
  • the telephony devices are telephones and the centrally accessed unit is a PBX or similar switching capability.
  • the telephones must be configured to enable implementation of the specific call-related features independently of the PBX.
  • the telephones may be feature phones that are configured to enable call forwarding.
  • the centrally accessed unit is a server dedicated to a particular call-related feature, and the telephony devices are telephones. Again, the telephones must be able to provide the necessary digital signal processing to implement modern call-related features.
  • the server is dedicated to providing voicemail capability, but the individual telephones provide redundant capability for voicemail manipulation (e.g., volume control).
  • the requests for the voicemail capability are assigned to the server until a threshold level has been reached that indicates that the anticipated delays associated with leaving or manipulating voicemail messages at the server exceed anticipated delays associated with leaving or manipulating voicemail messages at the individual telephony devices.
  • the dynamic and adaptive shifting of the load between the centrally accessed unit (central CPU) and the telephony devices (edge CPUS) allows a system to take full advantage of the capabilities of the centrally accessed unit under low load and normal load operating conditions, but does not introduce undue delays during high load conditions.
  • Load balancing may be configured to optimize the execution location of “moveable” features between the centrally accessed unit and the telephony devices.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a telephonic system which incorporates adaptive distributed call processing in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is graph of call processing delays as a function of call-handling load.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a system having adaptive distributed call processing.
  • FIG. 4 is a third embodiment of a system having adaptive distributed call processing in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a process flow of steps for executing the adaptive distributed call processing.
  • a network 10 of workstations is shown as being adapted for load sharing between a centrally accessed unit and a number of telephony devices.
  • the network is a ToL system that includes a number of interconnected personal computers 12 , 14 , 16 and 18 .
  • Each personal computer is configured to run ToL software.
  • the personal computers are preferably equipped with a telephony application programming interface (TAPI) that allows the computer to have telephone capability.
  • TAPI telephony application programming interface
  • each computer may be connected to a digital telephone 20 , 22 , 24 and 26 .
  • the computers 12 - 18 and telephones 20 - 26 transfer non time-critical data (such as electronic mail) and time-critical data (such as voice information) to each other over a network link 28 .
  • the network link may be wired or wireless.
  • the computers and telephones are network endpoints that have unique addresses. For example, each of the computers may have a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address. The addresses are used to identify target endpoints for data and voice transfers.
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • the network 10 also includes a gatekeeper 30 and a gateway 32 (although shown connected to each other, this is not necessary as long as the gatekeeper and gateway are logically connected to network link 28 ).
  • the gatekeeper 30 maintains a database of the unique addresses for the endpoints of the network.
  • the gatekeeper Upon receiving a request for a data or voice transfer from an external telephony device to one of the network endpoints, such as the telephony-enabled personal computer 12 , the gatekeeper translates any endpoint alias (such as a hostname or e-mail address) or translates a telephone address (such as addresses in a telephone number format) to the appropriate network.
  • endpoint alias such as a hostname or e-mail address
  • a telephone address such as addresses in a telephone number format
  • the functions of the gateway 32 are also well known in the art. Gateways are used to provide protocol conversions, when necessary.
  • the gateway may translate call control signals and call content from a packet-switched format used within the network 10 to a circuit-switched format used by the PSTN 34 .
  • the protocol conversion enables endpoints of the network 10 to communicate with external telephony devices, such as a telephone 36 or the workstation that consists of a telephony-enabled computer 38 and a telephone 40 . If the network 10 is only connected to another data network, such as when networks are interconnected to form a wide area network (WAN), the gateway 32 may not be necessary, since protocol conversion may not be required.
  • WAN wide area network
  • the gatekeeper 30 is a “centrally accessed unit” with respect to providing services for the network endpoints that include the computers 12 - 18 and the telephones 20 - 26 .
  • the centrally accessed unit may be another centralized processing unit besides the gatekeeper.
  • This centrally accessed unit is configured to provide a number of call-related features, such as call forwarding, voice messaging and intercom broadcasting.
  • the computers 12 - 18 are also configured to implement these features. Thus, there is a redundant capability. Under certain operating conditions of the network 10 , it may be preferable to utilize the capability of the gatekeeper 30 to perform the tasks necessary to implement a requested call-related feature.
  • the call processing delays associated with implementation at the device level and the central unit level are plotted as a function of busy hour call attempts (BHCA).
  • the plot 42 of call processing delays for feature implementation at the device level is relatively level.
  • the slope of the plot 44 of call processing delays for central processing increases significantly.
  • an optimal task-allocation scheme would be one in which the central processing unit would be assigned to implementing the call-related features, until a request is received while the central processing unit is handling at least eight calls. It is then more efficient to assign the task to the telephony devices.
  • the gatekeeper 30 or a comparable device utilizes C or C++ language
  • the telephony-enabled computers 12 - 18 utilize the JAVA computer language. Since the JAVA language is less efficient than C or C++, it is more efficient to perform the call-related tasks at the gatekeeper, if the entire system is idle. However, as the processing power at the gatekeeper is increasingly utilized, the CPU processing at the gatekeeper becomes a bottleneck. This increases the call processing delay, as indicated in FIG. 2 . Under this condition, performing the tasks for implementing call forwarding or intercom broadcasting may encounter fewer delays if the tasks are assigned to the telephony devices that are operating under the less efficient programming language.
  • the adaptive task-allocation scheme may be enforced within the gatekeeper 30 .
  • the network 10 may include a load-sharing server 46 or other adjunct device that is used to enforce the load sharing.
  • the server 46 merely monitors the activity at the gatekeeper 30 . If the relationship of delays is consistent with FIG. 2, the monitoring of activity at the gatekeeper will be sufficient for determining optimal performance.
  • the load-sharing server 46 or similar device may monitor activity at the individual telephony-enabled computers 12 - 18 .
  • the tasks for implementing a particular call-related feature for which there is redundant capability may be assigned to the target computer, unless the target computer is presently using a level of processing resources that is above a threshold level.
  • the load-sharing server 46 may monitor activity at both the gatekeeper 30 and the individual computers 12 - 18 .
  • the parameter monitored by the load-sharing server 46 may be presently handled calls.
  • the assignment of tasks may be shifted when the call load exceeds a predetermined load level.
  • the predetermined load level may be eight calls during “busy hours.”
  • the call level may be varied depending upon the time of the day.
  • the load-sharing server 46 may monitor the available CPU power of the gatekeeper, or the individual computers 12 - 18 , or all of the computers and the gatekeeper. Depending upon the available CPU power, the server is configured to assign the call-related tasks to the gatekeeper or the target computer.
  • Other embodiments may be substituted, since the fundamental goal is to minimize imposed delays for executing the call-related tasks and/or minimizing imposed delays for tasks that must be performed simultaneously with the implementation of the features for which there is redundant capability.
  • the invention may be used in a telecommunications system having stand-alone telephones 48 , 50 and 52 that are supported by a PBX 54 .
  • the PBX is configured to enable implementation of the call-related features, as represented by the feature capability 56 .
  • the telephones 48 - 52 are configured to provide redundant capability.
  • cell forwarding is one example of a call-related feature that can be implemented either at the centrally accessed unit (in this embodiment the PBX 54 ) or at the target telephony device (in this embodiment one of the telephones 48 - 52 ).
  • Other features can be implemented at only one of the components. For example, message waiting notification must be implemented at the telephones. The invention cannot be used with such features.
  • the PBX 54 may also support one or more telephony-enabled personal computers 58 .
  • the computer 58 is shown as being connected to a telephone 60 , but again this is not critical.
  • the PBX is a conventional device that routes calls directly between the telephones 48 , 50 , 52 and 60 or routes incoming and outgoing calls from the supported telephones to external telephony devices, such as the telephones 62 and 64 that are connected to the PSTN 66 .
  • the system includes a load-sharing server 68 that functions in the same manner as the server 46 that was described with reference to FIG. 1 . That is, the server 68 allocates tasks to either the feature capability 56 of the PBX 54 or to the redundant feature capability at the target telephone 48 , 50 , 52 or 60 .
  • the task-allocation scheme that is enforced at the load-sharing server 68 may be based upon current operating conditions at the PBX or upon current activity at the target telephone, or upon a combination of current activities.
  • the system attempts to minimize delays. As noted above, the current available processing power of the PBX may be used as a factor in anticipating the delays that will be encountered if the call-related feature (e.g., call forwarding) is implemented at the PBX.
  • the call-related feature e.g., call forwarding
  • the “centrally accessed unit” is a server 70 (e.g., a voicemail server) that is dedicated to supporting one or more call-related features for telephones 72 , 74 , 76 and 78 .
  • the telephones may be conventional devices which are programmed to provide redundant capability for implementing at least one of the call-related features (e.g., volume control during voicemail playback).
  • a load-sharing server 80 enforces a task-allocation scheme of the type described above. Consequently, the selection of a particular processing capability for implementation of a requested call-related feature is based upon controlling the processing load, so that delays are manageable.
  • the centrally accessed unit is configured to implement the call-related feature or features for which there will be redundant capability.
  • the centrally accessed unit may be a gatekeeper, a PBX, or a comparable device.
  • the centrally accessed unit may be a server that is dedicated to supporting the call-related features, as described with reference to FIG. 4 .
  • the invention is used in a ToL network environment.
  • the telephony devices are configured to independently implement the call-related feature or features, as represented in step 84 .
  • the telephony devices are preferably personal computers running ToL client software, but other embodiments are contemplated.
  • the telephony devices may be conventional telephones that contain sufficient digital signal processing circuitry and programming to allow the features to be locally implemented. It is common for a ToL client to be programmed in the JAVA programming language or in some other language that is less efficient than the programming language used at the centrally accessed unit. Therefore, the features are typically more efficiently executed at the centrally accessed unit if the unit has sufficient currently available processing resource capability to operate at or near its full capacity. The concern is that there are times at which the current operating conditions of the centrally accessed unit render it more efficient to implement the call-related features at the device level.
  • the task-allocation scheme is defined. The scheme will depend upon the particular network in which the redundant feature capability resides. The system is then ready for operation in accordance with the invention.
  • the task-allocation scheme is accessed.
  • the delays associated with the implementation of the requested feature are anticipated. This may merely be a measure of the current utilization of the processing resources of the centrally accessed unit (e.g., the gatekeeper). The CPU power that is currently used may be monitored. However, other means for determining and anticipating delays are contemplated.
  • the process may include monitoring the available processing power at the telephony devices.
  • the tasks for implementing the requested feature are assigned at step 92 .
  • the process of FIG. 5 optimizes the balance between processing at the central level and processing at the device level (i.e., the edge level).
  • the method compares the process delays at the central level to the process delays at the device level. While certain features, such as message waiting notification, can only be carried out at the device level, other features, such as call forwarding, can be performed either centrally or at the endpoints.
  • the load-sharing server seeks to optimize the execution location of the features for which there is redundant capability. The process then returns to step 88 to detect the next request for a call-realted feature that may occur.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
  • Multi Processors (AREA)
  • Hardware Redundancy (AREA)
  • Sub-Exchange Stations And Push- Button Telephones (AREA)
US09/456,931 1999-12-07 1999-12-07 Method and system for adaptively allocating call-related tasks Expired - Lifetime US6516059B1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/456,931 US6516059B1 (en) 1999-12-07 1999-12-07 Method and system for adaptively allocating call-related tasks
DE60021994T DE60021994T2 (de) 1999-12-07 2000-11-23 Verfahren und System zur adaptiven Zuweisung von Anrufaufgaben
EP00310389A EP1107554B1 (de) 1999-12-07 2000-11-23 Verfahren und System zur adaptiven Zuweisung von Anrufaufgaben
JP2000370629A JP2001223812A (ja) 1999-12-07 2000-12-05 コール関連タスクを適応的に割当てるための方法およびシステム

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US09/456,931 US6516059B1 (en) 1999-12-07 1999-12-07 Method and system for adaptively allocating call-related tasks

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US6944274B1 (en) 2004-03-02 2005-09-13 William Nelson Chatfield Dynamically configured voice mail system
US7130297B1 (en) * 2000-03-06 2006-10-31 Sun Peter C P Architecture for a mixed voice and data network
US20080130848A1 (en) * 2006-12-05 2008-06-05 Microsoft Corporation Auxiliary peripheral for alerting a computer of an incoming call
US7570587B1 (en) * 2000-12-14 2009-08-04 Nortel Networks Limited Resource allocation for multi-service gateways

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US6058307A (en) * 1995-11-30 2000-05-02 Amsc Subsidiary Corporation Priority and preemption service system for satellite related communication using central controller
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US7130297B1 (en) * 2000-03-06 2006-10-31 Sun Peter C P Architecture for a mixed voice and data network
US7570587B1 (en) * 2000-12-14 2009-08-04 Nortel Networks Limited Resource allocation for multi-service gateways
US6944274B1 (en) 2004-03-02 2005-09-13 William Nelson Chatfield Dynamically configured voice mail system
US20080130848A1 (en) * 2006-12-05 2008-06-05 Microsoft Corporation Auxiliary peripheral for alerting a computer of an incoming call
US8102841B2 (en) 2006-12-05 2012-01-24 Microsoft Corporation Auxiliary peripheral for alerting a computer of an incoming call

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EP1107554B1 (de) 2005-08-17
EP1107554A3 (de) 2004-04-07
EP1107554A2 (de) 2001-06-13
JP2001223812A (ja) 2001-08-17
DE60021994D1 (de) 2005-09-22
DE60021994T2 (de) 2006-07-13

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